Not sure what actually causes any problems with alts and chargers on simultaneously...have run many a boat including mine with both going with no ill effects....

I have no idea either. . . .even my automotive charger will shut down if you start the car engine too which it is attached.

My boat is twin engine and the internally regulated Delco alternators are each attached to a battery, no combiner. When you switch the battery switch to "all" and combine the batteries there are no adverse effects?? Both alternators continue running and balance the load between the alternators. If you slow one engine to idle, the other alternator picks up the load.

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Larry B
Careful . . .I Have a Generator and I'm not afraid to use it !

I just happened to be reading a paper from Northern Lights about generator installation (I know, I need to get a life). Anyway, they are very clear that you MUST NOT use a scoop thruhull of any kind. The reasoning is that with the generator off and the boat underway, the scoop forces water up the intake line, pushes past the impeller, and fills the water lift muffler (assuming you have one). Once the muffler fills, the water will back up into the engine and trash it. This of course depends on the exact configuration of your installation and exhaust, but it's not a failure scenario that would immediately come to mind.

So, according to them, not only is a mushroom intake OK, its what you MUST use.

>My boat is twin engine and the internally regulated Delco alternators are each attached to a battery, no combiner. When you switch the battery switch to "all" and combine the batteries there are no adverse effects?? Both alternators continue running and balance the load between the alternators. If you slow one engine to idle, the other alternator picks up the load.<

..........Make your life easier- change the electric stove out for a propane one!

While I agree that a propane stove is better than an electric one, especially on a boat, "changing out" an electric stove for a propane stove is not that simple unless you already have an ABYC compliant propane system. The requirements for propane on a boat are pretty complex and strict.

While I agree that a propane stove is better than an electric one, especially on a boat, "changing out" an electric stove for a propane stove is not that simple unless you already have an ABYC compliant propane system. The requirements for propane on a boat are pretty complex and strict.

But not necessarily hard...I put a propane stove back on my boat (PO had switched to electric) in a day after I had all the pieces and parts...But some boats are a lot tougher or personal requirements may make the install difficult.

We do not have an inverter only a battery charger that typically cycles on & off. We have ran the generator & battery charger underway for up to 14 hour cruise (2 engines). We have owned this boat for almost 2 years. So far no issues. Are we damaging the batteries? I had not really thought about it until reading this thread.

We do have an inverter but it is not wired for the stove/oven. The other reason for asking about running underway was as a back up should an alternator fail we would have a back up way to charge batteries while heading to a port.

Guess i will give it a try and hope that the shutdown devices work as advertised.